The trial against the two 19-year-old men accused of killing Clark — Marquese Bryant McCray and James Verdell Watkins — was delayed last year, but testimony is scheduled to begin Wednesday afternoon in front of Oakland County Circuit Judge Rudy Nichols.

McCray and Watkins are both charged with felony murder and armed robbery, while McCray also faces two counts of possession of a firearm in commission of a felony.

Watkins initially faced the exact same charges as Watkins, but his felony firearms counts were dismissed at the district court level, according to court documents. He was released from custody on 10 percent of a $250,000 bond on Dec. 9.

“There was nothing in my review of the transcripts that suggested that Mr. Watkins ... aided or abetted (McCray) in carrying having in his possession a firearm during the commission or attempted commission of a felony,” 50th District Judge Cynthia Thomas Walker stated in dismissing Watkins’ felony firearms charges.

That statement is quoted in a motion filed by Watkins’ attorney, Elias Escobedo, which sought to have Watkins released on his personal recognizance. The motion states that Watkins’ family remains extremely supportive and that a witness reported hearing Watkins attempting to convince McCray to leave the area before the incident occurred.

“(Watkins) was just there,” the witness stated, according to testimony quoted in the motion.

Watkins’ grandfather, Rev. Robert L. Martin Sr., wrote a letter to the court in support of his grandson.

“James has made an untold number of bad or poor decisions, but he has not been a bully or a person of violence toward others,” that letter, attached to Escobedo’s motion, states.

“My home is open to him and we welcome an opportunity to maybe save his life. By that, I mean the longer he is locked up, the greater the risk that he will not come out unscathed.”

The prosecution’s response to the motion stated that “there is no justifiable basis for this Honorable Court to amend (Watkins’) bond.”

Evidence showed that Watkins “actively sought out the victim for the purpose of robbing him,” the response, authored by Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Kelli Megyesi, stated.

“Watkins was part of a team that befriended the victim with an ulterior motive in mind, that being money or robbery. Watkins pursued the victim from the safety of his own home, through the community, into a public store and ultimately to a public street where he and (McCray) confronted him for money and then killed him.”